What Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un's body language said

It was the unprecedented diplomatic meeting for which the world was waiting.

After decades of frozen relations and a diplomatic stand-off dating back to the Korean War, history was made when a sitting US President and a North Korean leader met face-to-face for the first time on Tuesday.

Relations thawed in the steamy climes of Singapore, the city state with a reputation for neutrality. The two unpredictable leaders - Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un - came together for an historic handshake in front of dozens of cameras and millions of viewers.

So when the moment finally arrived, how did both men perform on with the eyes of the world watching?

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What did their body language say? Two experts dissected the non-verbal cues from the historic meeting, frame-by-frame.

Trump appeared like an older, fatherly-type directing a younger, less experienced Kim Jong-un.Credit:AP

“Trump is physically bigger and more experienced than Kim. If you didn’t know who they were and you watched TV with the sound turned off, you’d conclude that Trump was an older, fatherly-type directing a younger, less experienced Kim Jong-un,” Mr Pease said.

“Trump initiated the handshake from a distance. Both had argy-bargy, pulling the handshake back and forth, each avoiding being pulled in or controlled by the other. No eye contact from Kim.”

Although he noted Mr Kim’s aversion to eye contact was a cultural difference, “which could be wrongly interpreted as submission”.

Louise Mahler, a communication and body language expert, said Mr Trump was in control from start to finish and described Mr Kim as “nervous”.

One body language expert said Trump was in control from start to finish and described Kim as “nervous".Credit:AP

“Kim Jong-un reminded me of a stand-in who is filling in at a rehearsal before the real player arrives. He is disconnected and seems to not be making any decisions on where to go, when to turn, who to look at,” Dr Mahler said.

At one point, Dr Mahler noticed Mr Trump pulling his jacket together, “which is a gorilla power move, setting himself right".

While seated in front of the cameras, Mr Pease said Mr Kim appeared tense.

Trump strategically lets Kim Jong-un have the upper hand in the handshake.Credit:AP

“Trump strategically lets Kim Jong-un have the upper hand in the handshake, a clever move, the same as he did with Putin.”

Both experts noted the leaders’ posture during the meeting.

“Trump is sitting in a steeple gesture, his trademark of confidence. Kim Jong-un’s sitting position is readiness position, in the ‘starter’s block’,” Mr Pease said.

After signing documents in front of the press on Tuesday afternoon, the two men stood to leave and Mr Trump used his signature move.

“He did what we were all waiting for: they stood up and he pulled him in. He couldn’t resist it – the power pull,” Dr Mahler said.

Dr Mahler was intrigued by the shot of the two men walking away from the cameras after signing the documents.

“When they turned, Kim put his hand on the back of Trump, but Trump is a genius – he got the last arm up.

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“As they say, ‘he who gets the last hand on the back wins.’ Trump held his nerve and put his hand up at the last second – ‘bang’. He won,” Dr Mahler said.

Overall, Dr Mahler gave Mr Trump the thumbs up.

“He’s brilliant, he’s just fabulous to watch, Trump. He’s an artwork.

“Trump tried so hard, he did everything: eye contact, hand gestures, leaning towards him, reaching out first, guiding him where to go.”

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But at the end, she said he looked “tired, angry, bored and frustrated”.

“I thought Kim looked confused. I wonder if the man is on drugs. It’s not that he’s nervous, he’s not shaking. It’s more that he’s looking for instruction. I’m inclined to say he’s a puppet leader,” she said.